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While it may not be too difficult to stick to a vegetarian diet, it does help to reinvigorate oneself by reading, watching, and listening to the words, advice, and wisdom of fellow veggies. Whether you just want to strengthen your vegetarian resolve, find out more about vegetarian/vegan issues, or become more adapt in the kitchen by honing your cruelty-free cooking skills, the following veggie-gurus are a delectable breathe of fresh air:

Read The Kind Diet by Alicia Silverstone and you will reevaluate your current stance on food without a doubt. The vegan and raw foods aficionado expounds on the virtues of a plant-based diet and gives in depth, but not unrealistic, tips and tricks on living green. She details her own journey to self-awareness, discusses macrobiotics, and details delicious vegan entrees in the recipe section. If you have ever wanted to dip your toes in the vegetarian pool, this is the book for you. Silverstone elicits a joyous feeling every time she speaks of a healthful inner glow that comes from a plant-based diet and encourages in an un-preachy tone that the reader take a hard look at what they ingest.In a bright move, the author breaks down three different steps to enlightenment: “The Flirt,” “the Vegan,” and “The Superhero” and insists the reader make the best decision for themselves.

John Robbins’ Diet for a New America is hardly a new tome at all. Originally published in 1987, Diet for a New America was one of the first, and certainly the most distinguished, vegetarian books available. The would-be heir to the Baskin Robbins world of dairy ice-cream touts veganism and insists that he gave up the idea of running one of the most successful companies in the United States because it was against his morals. This is not a simplistic “veggie-is better” how-to guide either. Instead, Robbins did intense research on the global factors of a meat-based diet including the environmental impact of slaughter houses.Many authors list Robbins as an influence not only for their writing but for their turn towards vegetarianism at all.

Colleen Patrick Goudreau is an esteemed writer, cook, animal rights activist and podcast host. While her cook books, The Vegan Table and The Joy of Vegan Baking have been huge in the vegan community, it is really her award-winning podcast “Vegetarian Food for Thought” that has garnered the most love and adulation for this tireless fighter. Her podcasts often tell stories about how she came to veganism. Usually, the podcast sheds light on the exploitation of animals and what you can do to help (which is pretty simple-stop eating animals). Always, however, her podcasts celebrate the joy of, as Colleen puts it, “living your truth” and how to become a comfortable vegetarian, one that does less preaching but delivers the most honesty.

Kimberly Samson is a vegetarian of sixteen years who is constantly looking for great new vegetarian and vegan products and recipes. A life-long Californian, she recently earned her MA in English and spends her free time reading, writing, and cooking.